Luminous composition.



Patentedlrlay 1a, 19

PATENT Price.

GEORGE F. KUNZ, or NEW YORK, N. 'Y;

uminous COMPOSITION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 789,812, dated may 16, 1905..

- Application filed number-as, 190s. Beria1No.18 B,881.

To an whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. KUNz, a citizen of the United States of' America, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of' New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Luminous Compositions, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to luminous compositions, and particularly to a composition containing a radio-active material and a radio-responsive material, the object of my invention being to provide a composition having a much greater luminosity than either of the isolated radioactive or' radio-responsive constituent parts. 4 i

. Among the list of known radio-active materials which can be used in carrying out my invention may be mentioned radium compounds, polonium, actiniuin, radio-active tellurium, radio-active bismuth, barium, radioactive thorium, radio-active lead, and helium.

" Other materials containing the propertypf radio-activity, if so prove-n, may be used with like effect.

As radio-responsive materials maybe mentioned willemite, zinc-sultid, phosphorescent calcium-suliid, kunzite, the diamond and other precious stones, although other minerals or chemicals organic or inorganic may be used.

Up to the present time radium as an element has not been isolated and is only known in the compound form as radium chlorid, radiumbi'omid, radium barium cai bonate, &c., although radium is believed to be an element, as its spectrum contains several positivelynew lines.'

x I have determined by experiment that a mass of high luminosity may be obtained by the admixture of substances or materials hav ing'radio-active properties and mat/eri'alshaving radio-responsive propertiestha t is to say, by the mixture of materials which become luminous or are rendered more highly luminous when brought into contact with ma- ,terials of higher radio-activity-it being'understood, howev r, that the increased luminosity of the responsive bodies may act upon the radio-active bodies tostimulate or increase their radio-active properties. I 2

In carrying out myinvention I mix. as an example, pulverulent or granular radium materialsay.rad um barium carbonate and puivcrulent or granular willemite-'in variable or equal proportions. The mixture so produced possesses a'iasti'ng luminosity, exceeding that of the radium material in a marked degree.

A like efiectis produced by mixing the radi-- 'responsive bodies for those just mentioned.

1f the materials are of high radio-activity, ordinary glass holds back certain rays, presumably ultra-violet, which do not penetrate the glass. From experiment, however, it is known that quartz (rock-crystal) permits the free passage of the ultraviolet or other rays obstructed by ordinary glass, and it is therefore best to use either bottles or vials of quartz (rockcrystal) or small fiat or hemispherical plates of this, substance to be inserted in the glass, wood, or other receptacle,

for the luminous compositions, thus permitting the free passage of all the radio-active rays. Ordinary glass will answer for mate rials of low radio-activity. The composition may be used dry in powdered form or it may be mixed with a liquid, either acid, alkaline, or neutral, such as water, petroleum, or with an oil, varnish, or other liquid to form a luminous paint without affecting its radio-activity.

The mixture of radio-active and radio-responsive material either ina dry condition or mixed with oil, soluble glass, varnish, water, or other media may be applied to clocks to indicate the time, or to measuring instruments of all known types, to numbers -upon doors or houses, on medicine vials or wiuebottles, or objects of any kind for the purpose of showing luminescence in the dark, or it. can be used in the practice of medicine for internal examinations or for destroying germs, microbes, bacteria, and the like. The

mixture may also be used for scientific or: popular toys and for luminous jewels or other ornamental purposes, as also in the general \Vhile I have herein described and broadly claimed a composition containing any 'one or all of theradio-active materials and radio-responsive materials, I do not herein make specific claims to the use or willemite and zinc compounds, as they are the subject-matter of a separate and companion application,Serial No. 174,492, filed September 24, 1903.

What I claim as new is- 1. A luminous composition containing radio-active material,radioresponsive material, and liquid;

2. A luminous composition containing radio-active material, radio-raponsive material, and oil..

3. A luminous composition containing radie-active radium material, radio-responsive material and liquid.

4. A luminous composition containing radie-active radium material, radio-responsive material and oil.

5. A composition containing radio-active witnesses.

material, radio-responsive material and ca! ing or covering of rock-crystal.

6. A composition containing radio-activ material and kunzite.

. 7. A composition containing radium-mate rial and kunzite.

8. A composition containing radio-activ material, 'l 'unzite and liquid,

9. A composition containing racl-io-activ material, ku-nzite, and translucent. coverin or casing therefor. Y,

10. A composition containing radio-activ material, kunzite and easing or covering 0 rock-crystal.

11. Acornposition containinga luminescen compound, aradio aotive excitant, and a ve hicle therefor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto so my hand in the presence of two subsoribin GEORGE F. KUNZ. 'Witnesses:

RAENA H. YIIDIZKY, 4

A. FABER DU FAUR, Jr. 

